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The Free Design

The Free Design

A harmonic folk band of the 60s and 70s

  • ABOUT
    • Then
    • Now
    • Biographies
    • Discography
  • MUSIC
  • PRESS/MEDIA
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Then

1965
Mar 02

THE EARLY YEARS

THE EARLY YEARS

The Free Design – Chris, Bruce, Sandy and Ellen Dedrick, were brothers and sisters from Delevan, N.Y., a small town near Buffalo. They grew up surrounded by music. Their father, Art..READ MORE

1966
Jul 07

THE GENESIS OF THE FREE DESIGN

THE GENESIS OF THE FREE DESIGN

At the end of 1966, Sandy, Bruce and Chris had moved from upstate New York down to New York City. Sandy´s apartment in Queen’s became a handy gathering place. There..READ MORE

1967
Mar 02

THE FREE DESIGN SIGNED WITH RECORD LABEL

THE FREE DESIGN SIGNED WITH RECORD LABEL

Within a few months they signed with Project 3, Enoch Light’s label, and soon had a collection of songs ready to record for their first album, titled Kites are Fun..READ MORE

Apr 02

ALBUM RELEASE – KITES ARE FUN

ALBUM RELEASE – KITES ARE FUN

Released 1967 The band’s 1967 debut Kites Are Fun placed them squarely in the realm of sunshine pop acts like The Association and Curt Boettcher and Gary Usher’s Sagittarius, but..READ MORE

1968
Mar 01

THE FREE DESIGN PROGRESSION

THE FREE DESIGN PROGRESSION

After their first album their repertoire and reputation grew by leaps and bounds. Chris’ original flair for vocal arranging and orchestration and the God-given voices of all of them gave..READ MORE

Apr 03

ALBUM RELEASE – YOU COULD BE BORN AGAIN

ALBUM RELEASE – YOU COULD BE BORN AGAIN

Released 1968 The Free Design released You Could Be Born Again, adding youngest sister Ellen to the lineup. Having another voice allowed Chris to write more complex vocal arrangements, but..READ MORE

1969
Mar 01

ALBUM RELEASE – HEAVEN/ EARTH

ALBUM RELEASE – HEAVEN/ EARTH

Released 1969 Heaven/Earth, for the most part, continues the soft, psychedelic pop of the first two records. “You Be You and I’ll Be Me” spices up a typically elaborate vocal..READ MORE

1970
Mar 06

ALBUM RELEASE – SING FOR VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE

ALBUM RELEASE – SING FOR VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE

Released 1970 Sing For Very Important People is something of a children’s album, replete with songs about cowboys, Sesame Street, familiar Free Design pastimes of kites, bubbles and even a..READ MORE

Jul 15

ALBUM RELEASE – STARS/TIME/BUBBLES/LOVE

ALBUM RELEASE – STARS/TIME/BUBBLES/LOVE

Released 1970 Sing For Very Important People is something of a children’s album, replete with songs about cowboys, Sesame Street, familiar Free Design pastimes of kites, bubbles and even a..READ MORE

1971
Mar 04

THE FREE DESIGN FEATURED ON TV

THE FREE DESIGN FEATURED ON TV

Despite the almost unbelievable lack of chart success they had keen followers and made numerous appearances on TV Shows like The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Mike Douglas Show,..READ MORE

Sep 16

ALBUM RELEASE – ONE BY ONE

ALBUM RELEASE – ONE BY ONE

Released 1971 One By One is more muted and more emotional. The songs seem a bit more personal (“One By One”, “Friendly Man”), and the harmony arrangements are less ornate,..READ MORE

1972
Mar 09

ALBUM RELEASE – THERE IS A SONG

ALBUM RELEASE – THERE IS A SONG

Released 1972 There is a Song (Ambrotype) was the last Free Design record the group made until 2001’s Cosmic Peekaboo. It was recorded during a time of change for the..READ MORE

1974
Mar 07

THE END OF AN ERA

THE END OF AN ERA

The Free Design stopped recording together in 1974. The sound of Free Design can be described as modern, rich orchestration with a choral approach to pop, simultaneously nostalgic and bracingly..READ MORE

1995
Mar 16

REISSUING THE ALBUMS

REISSUING THE ALBUMS

In 1995 Joe Zynczak, who co-wrote “Love You” with Sandy, purchased the rights to the master recordings of The Free Design and began to seek out a record label to..READ MORE

2000
Mar 16

RENEWED INTEREST IN THE FREE DESIGN

RENEWED INTEREST IN THE FREE DESIGN

In 2000, Marina Records, a German record label put out Caroline Now, a tribute to the music of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys which included a version of “Endless..READ MORE

2001
Mar 07

ALBUM RELEASE – COSMIC PEEKABOO

ALBUM RELEASE – COSMIC PEEKABOO

Release 2001 Along with Chris’ songs, this recording includes some fine original songwriting by Bruce, as well as the lovely voice and expert production assistance of Rebecca Pellet.    

2023
Mar 20

THE MUSIC TODAY

THE MUSIC TODAY

  The Free Design’s music has become more and more popular as time goes on.  The song “Love You” is featured during the credits of the film Stranger Than Fiction..READ MORE

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  • ABOUT
    ▼
    • Then
    • Now
    • Biographies
    • Discography
  • MUSIC
  • PRESS/MEDIA
    ▼
    • Press
    • Media
  • CONTACT